Where the Hits Keep Coming
After more than forty-five years of broadcasting, radio station WOAR—where the hits keep coming—was going off the air. Disc jockey J.J. Blocker, known to radio fans as "J.J. at Night," announced he would retire immediately after the final show. The beloved deejay predicted WOAR's farewell broadcast was destined to go down in rock 'n' roll history. J.J. invited all his listeners to join him for a stroll down memory lane, as he paid homage to the great artists of rock 'n' roll. Loyal listeners would have one last Saturday night of music before WOAR would be silenced forever and the hits would finally stop coming.
* * *
"You say you're gonna leave. You know it's a lie 'cause that'll be the day when I die."
That was Buddy Holly here on the final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
The year was 1956. In the news, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected to a second term of office, the Federal-Aid Highway Act was signed paving the way for the interstate highway system, one hundred and one Southern congressmen called for massive resistance to Supreme Court desegregation rulings, Actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine became available for mass distribution.
In music, a new sound, still in its infancy, swept across the country. Inspired by rhythm and blues, gospel and country music, rock 'n' roll, with its accented beat, appealed most to young audiences. Two events occurred around this time that would have far-reaching effects on this new music form. First, The Ed Sullivan Show played host to a young truck driver from Memphis, Elvis Presley, who sang "Hound Dog" and "Heartbreak Hotel" to a crowd of adoring teenage fans. Second, across the Atlantic, at the Woolton Parish Church in Liverpool, England, sixteen-year-old John Lennon, leader of a band called John and the Quarrymen, met fourteen-year-old guitar player, Paul McCartney.
Meanwhile, here in Massachusetts, wealthy businessman Oscar Keyes started radio station WOAR, the first in New England to be dedicated to rock 'n' roll. John James Blocker, a young man straight out of high school, hitchhiked to the offices of WOAR in search of a job. Keyes, impressed by both J.J.'s knowledge of music and his keen sense of humor, signed him as the station's first deejay. During his debut broadcast, young Blocker made the promise that as long as he was affiliated with WOAR, the hits would keep coming.
* * *
"Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfill, for my darling I love you, and I always will."
That was Elvis Presley here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
In the late 1950s, the U.S. launched its first satellite into orbit, Congress approved the Civil Rights bill, National Airlines started the first domestic jet airline passenger service between New York and Miami, Alaska and Hawaii were admitted as the forty-ninth and fiftieth states and the Batista regime in Cuba was overthrown by Fidel Castro.
One of television's longest-running shows, American Bandstand, debuted on ABC. Teenagers danced the twist and the hand jive while watching Chuck Berry, Fabian, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. They were all shook up with the King and found their thrills on Blueberry Hill with Fats Domino. Teenage girls around the world had their hearts broken when the U.S. Army drafted Elvis Presley.
Rock 'n' roll saw its first tragedy in February 1959 when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) were killed in a plane crash outside of Clear Lake, Iowa. The following year, Eddie Cochran was killed in a car accident in England.
WOAR's popularity grew, as did the number of its listeners. J.J. Blocker became a local celebrity. He bought himself a new Chevy, donned dark shades and a black leather jacket and wore his hair slicked back in an Elvis-like pompadour.
* * *
"I'm a traveling man, made a lot of stops all over the world, and in every port, I own the heart of at least one lovely girl."
That was Ricky Nelson here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
In the early '60s, the U.S. continued its Cold War with the Soviet Union and its battle against racial discrimination at home. An unsuccessful attempt was made to overthrow Fidel Castro, and U.S. troops began arriving in a small Asian country called Vietnam. Americans held their breath in fear during the Cuban Missile Crisis and shed tears over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, forever bringing an end to his dream of Camelot.
In the fast-growing world of rock music, four mop-topped young men from Liverpool appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, ushering in what became known as the British invasion. Elvis was deposed as the reigning king, and groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones became the driving force in rock 'n' roll.
Music fans mourned the loss of Otis Redding who died in a plane crash in Wisconsin and Sam Cooke who was shot to death in Los Angeles.
WOAR's J.J. Blocker married Catherine Weiss, his high school sweetheart. The popular deejay traded his Chevy for a Thunderbird convertible, bought a split-level house in the suburbs and, after two years of wedded bliss, became a proud father upon the birth of his son, John James Blocker, Jr.
* * *
"Purple haze is in my brain. Lately, things don't seem the same. Acting funny and I don't know why. 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky."
That was Jimi Hendrix here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
During the latter half of the 1960s, both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. Richard Nixon was sworn in as the 37th President of the United States. Fighting in Vietnam escalated and spread to Cambodia. In Hollywood, members of Charles Manson's "family" murdered actress Sharon Tate and seven others. On a brighter note, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.
With the U.S. plagued by social and political unrest, a feeling of rebellion was reflected in the music of the generation. The psychedelic sounds of Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane and The Doors flourished as a growing drug culture swept across the country. The Monterrey Pop Festival hosted The Mamas and the Papas, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and more than three hundred thousand music fans attended the three-day rock concert known as Woodstock near Bethel, New York. On the stage, a rock-inspired musical, Hair, celebrated the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, and The Who's Tommy became the first successful rock opera.
Sadly, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both died as a result of a drug overdose, and The Rolling Stone's Brian Jones was found dead in his swimming pool. All three died at the age of twenty-seven, sparking rumors of a "27 Club."
In the rebellious spirit of the '60s, J.J. Blocker let his hair grow long, donned bell-bottomed pants, a Nehru shirt and a buckskin jacket and sported a peace symbol and love beads around his neck. He sold his Thunderbird and bought a Volkswagen Beetle, took up transcendental meditation and became the father of a bouncing baby girl.
* * *
"You know that it would be untrue. You know that I would be a liar if I was to say to you, girl we couldn't get much higher. Come on, baby, light my fire."
That was Jim Morrison here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
In the early '70s, National Guardsmen opened fire on a crowd of protesters at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four students. In Maryland, George Wallace was shot while campaigning for president. Thankfully, the long war in Vietnam finally came to an end. In Washington, five men were arrested for attempting to break into the Watergate Hotel. Both President Nixon and Vice President Agnew resigned from their offices. The first Earth Day heralded the start of a growing concern for the environment. It was also a time of firsts in the world of technology: the first microprocessor was introduced; the first pocket calculator hit the market; and Pong, the first commercially successful video game, was released.
On the music scene, The Beatles called it quits, and John, Paul, George and Ringo went their separate ways. Meanwhile, former king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, wearing sequin-studded suits that rivaled Liberace's, played to packed audiences in Las Vegas.
Rock's death toll continued to rise. Mama Cass Elliot suffered a fatal heart attack in London, Jim Morrison died of heart failure in Paris (and became another member of the 27 Club), Jim Croce was killed in a plane crash in Louisiana, The Byrds' Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose in California and Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia.
The ever-popular J.J. Blocker had his hair permed, drove a Harley Davidson and predicted that The Beatles' breakup would be temporary. The Fab Four were sure to get back together, he prophesied. He and Cathy together with their two children moved into a larger, more expensive house. Ever prudent, J.J. also started putting aside money for his children's education and his eventual retirement.
* * *
"Feeling good was good enough for me. Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee."
That was Janis Joplin here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
The '70s were coming to an end. The United States celebrated its bicentennial with tall ships and fireworks, and the country looked forward to peace and prosperity. But in Iran, sixty-three Americans were taken hostage by followers of Ayatollah Khomeini, and America's watchful eyes turned away from Southeast Asia and toward the troubled Mid-East. In Guyana, more than nine hundred followers of the Reverend Jim Jones committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Flavor Aid. The late '70s also witnessed the birth of Apple Computers, video cassette recorders and the Sony Walkman.
Rock 'n' roll continued its ongoing evolution, branching off into disco and punk rock. The Bee Gees scored a big hit with "Stayin' Alive," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" topped the charts.
Tragically, three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a plane crash, Chicago's Terry Kath died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Keith Moon of The Who died of an overdose, rock icon Elvis Presley was found dead in Graceland, Supremes founder Florence Ballard died from a coronary blood clot and Donny Hathaway committed suicide by jumping from the fifteenth-floor window of a New York hotel. Also, while released on bail after being arrested for the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, former Sex Pistol Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose.
Radio's J.J. Blocker, decked in a freshly pressed polyester suit, celebrated his fortieth birthday by attempting to dance like John Travolta. Despite the presence of his first gray hairs, J.J. insisted he was still a young man at heart. He took his children to see Star Wars thirteen times. And, due to the so-called gas shortage, bought himself a more fuel-efficient Toyota.
* * *
"Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us; above us only sky. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one."
That was John Lennon here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
As America entered the '80s, former actor Ronald Reagan became the nation's fortieth president. The first woman was appointed to the Supreme Court, and the first female astronaut went into space. For many, it was a fairy tale wedding when England's Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. In medicine, the first test-tube baby was born, and the first cases of AIDS were reported. In an event that was to later change the world of communications, an enterprising young man named Bill Gates licensed his MS-DOS disk-operated computer system to IBM, and the world's first personal computers soon appeared on the market.
MTV, a twenty-four-hour music television station, was born, and music videos became a part of pop culture. The Material Girl, Madonna, had the first of many hits, and Michael Jackson released Thriller. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, Ohio, and Run-D.M.C. became the first rap group to have a gold record.
On a sadder note, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson drowned in California, Harry Chapin was killed in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway, Bob Marley succumbed to cancer in Miami, Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father, AC/DC's Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning and Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham choked to death on his own vomit. On December 8, 1980, rock music suffered one of its greatest losses when former Beatle John Lennon was shot to death in front of the Dakota, his New York apartment house, by crazed fan Mark David Chapman.
J.J. Blocker, still popular with the young fans of WOAR, tried to compensate for his receding hairline by growing a ponytail. He decided that, due to his rapidly expanding waistline, it was time to start jogging. Although he still hosted WOAR's Saturday night prime-time broadcasts and top forty countdowns, he began adding more oldies to the lineup. On WOAR, he proudly proclaimed, not only did the hits keep coming, but they came back again for an encore.
* * *
"And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, the little boy blue and the man in the moon. When you coming home, Dad? I don't know when, but we'll get together then, son. You know we'll have a good time then."
That was Harry Chapin here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
As the '80s drew to a close, the world was rocked by disasters. The space shuttle Challenger exploded and claimed the lives of all aboard, the Exxon Valdez caused a forty-five-mile oil spill in Alaska and the worst nuclear accident in history occurred at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the U.S.S.R. But all the destruction of the '80s did not bring tragedy. The world wept tears of joy, not sadness when the Berlin Wall was finally torn down, ending the long-standing Cold War division of the German capital.
Hip hop, or rap, became a permanent branch on the rock 'n' roll family tree. CDs replaced vinyl records and cassettes on music store shelves. Live Aid, a seventeen-hour rock concert, raised millions of dollars for starving people in Africa. The Irish group U2 released its bestselling album The Joshua Tree.
Actor and singer Ricky Nelson was killed in a plane crash, Andy Gibb died of heart inflammation, The Band's Richard Manuel hanged himself, Metallica's Cliff Burton was killed in a tour bus crash, The Wailers' Peter Tosh was shot by robbers, Hillel Slovak of the Red Hot Chili Peppers died of a drug overdose and Roy Orbison suffered a fatal heart attack.
The aging J.J. Blocker cut what was left of his hair short and bought a new Mercedes and an R.V. With both their children married and on their own, J.J. and Cathy took up golf and bought a time-share unit in sunny Florida. When WOAR founder/owner Oscar Keyes died of emphysema, the station was sold to a former record producer who promised not to change the station's successful format.
* * *
"If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me? For I must be traveling on now, 'cause there's too many places I've gotta see."
That was Lynyrd Skynyrd here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
The world said goodbye to the '80s and hello to the final decade of the twentieth century. The U.S. and its allies liberated Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. In Waco, Texas, cult leader David Koresh and his followers died after being held under siege for fifty-one days by the FBI. Janet Reno became the first woman Attorney General. Bombs exploded in New York's World Trade Center and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. And Americans were shocked when former football hero-turned-actor O.J. Simpson became the focus of one of the century's most famous murder trials.
Musically, it was a time of grunge rock and garage bands. The Recording Industry Association of America, under pressure from activist groups, introduced parental advisory stickers that were to be placed on tapes and CDs that contained explicit lyrics. The three surviving former Beatles released a three-part anthology, which included two new songs that incorporated previously unreleased tracks by the late John Lennon.
AIDs claimed the lives of Queen's Freddie Mercury and NWA rapper Eazy-E. Frank Zappa and Kiss's Eric Carr both died of cancer, while heart attacks killed the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, Harry Nilsson and The Byrds' Gene Clark. Stevie Ray Vaughn was killed in a helicopter crash, Def Leppard's Steve Clark died of respiratory failure, Curt Cobain was the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and Tejano singing sensation Selena Quintanilla Perez was shot and killed by the president of her fan club.
Still the top deejay at WOAR, J.J. Blocker insisted that, despite his age, he had no plans to retire. He renewed his oft-quoted promise to his listeners that at WOAR the hits would keep coming. In his personal life, he and Cathy became grandparents, sold their home and time-share unit, bought a maintenance-free condominium and traded their Mercedes for an all-wheel drive Subaru Outback.
* * *
"We are the champions, my friend, and we'll keep on fighting till the end. We are the champions; we are the champions; we are the champions of the world."
That was Freddie Mercury here on this final Saturday night on WOAR, where the hits keep coming.
As the '90s came to an end, President Clinton was tried and acquitted on charges of perjury in connection with his relationship with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, two students went on a shooting rampage, murdering twelve fellow students and one teacher before killing themselves.
Pop music saw the emergence of boy bands such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and 98 Degrees as well as female pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Latin singers Ricky Martin, Lou Bega, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez topped the charts. Napster offered free MP3 downloads on the Internet and faced copyright lawsuits from entertainers. In an attempt to repeat history, two hundred thousand people flocked to Woodstock '99, a four-day rock festival held in Rome, New York.
We said farewell to Tupac Shakur who died after being wounded in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Christopher Wallace (better known as The Notorious B.I.G.) who was gunned down outside a Soul Train Awards party, Sonny Bono who was killed in a skiing accident near Lake Tahoe, INXS' Michael Hutchence who hanged himself, Dusty Springfield and Beach Boy Carl Wilson who died of cancer, The Band's Rick Danko who died in his sleep of natural causes, Curtis Mayfield who died while in a diabetes-induced coma and John Denver who was killed when his experimental airplane went down in the Pacific Ocean.
The legendary J.J. Blocker suffered a minor heart attack and began watching his cholesterol level. Nearly bald, he no longer cared how he wore what was left of his hair. He gave up golf and spent his free time surfing the Internet. As the decade drew to a close, J.J. experienced his greatest personal tragedy when his beloved wife, Cathy, died of ovarian cancer.
* * *
"Take me home country roads to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home country roads."
That was John Denver, and I'm J.J. Blocker.
As the millennium is coming to an end, the world is preparing for the year 2000. Some of you are going to celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime event while others will hold their breath in dread, waiting for the predicted Y2K bug to strike.
I hope you've enjoyed my recap of the past forty-five years. At this time, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you all for listening to WOAR. I'm sure that, like me, you'll miss this radio station when it goes off the air. But never fear; those hits will still keep coming.
This is J.J. Blocker saying goodnight and goodbye.
* * *
It was considered by many to be the day the music truly died. Radio station WOAR, scheduled to go off the air at midnight on Saturday, ended its nearly half-a-century of broadcasting on Friday night instead. WOAR executives came to this decision after John James Blocker suffered a fatal heart attack at approximately 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. Those lucky listeners who tuned in on Saturday night heard a broadcast that indeed made history, one in which legendary stars of rock 'n' roll came together for a "live" performance that was hosted by the immortal J.J. Blocker on WOAR where the hits kept coming—even after death.
"That'll be the Day" written by Buddy Holly and Norman Pretty © Maria E. Holly Diaz.
"Love Me Tender" written by Elvis Presley and Vera Matson © Vera Matson
"Travelin' Man" written by Jerry Fuller © Jerry Fuller
"Purple Haze" written by James Marshall Hendrix © James A. Hendrix
"Light My Fire" written by the Doors (James Morrison, Robert Krieger, John Densmore and Raymond Manzarek) © Robert Krieger
"Me and Bobby McGee" written and © by Kris Kristoffersen and Fred Foster
"Imagine" written by John Lennon © Yoko Ono, Sean Ono Lennon and Julian Lennon
"Cat's in the Cradle" written by Harry F. Chapin © Sandy Chapin, Jennifer Chapin and Josh Chapin
"Free Bird" written and © by Allen Collins and Ronnie VanZant
"We are the Champions" written by Freddie Mercury © Queen Music, Ltd.
"Take Me Home Country Roads" written by William T. Danoff, Mary Catherine Nivert and H. J. Deutschendorf , Jr. (John Denver) © Zachary J. Deutschendorf, Anna Kate Deutschendorf, Jesse Belle Denver, Mary Catherine Nivert and William T. Danoff
Sorry, Salem. I don't think the Dropkick Murphys ever played on J.J. Blocker's Saturday night show.
